Bluc Dirnond Corporrtion Announccr Pcrronncl Chrngcr

Albert J. (Al) Comstock is one of the plastering crafts most experienced men. Al began work at Blue Diamond over twenty-five years ago. He worked his way through the transition period as the craft began the use of fireproof gypsum plaster and gypsum lath. As Blue Diamond's interests in the building material field broadened, Al's duties expanded with the company's activities. He will now clevote his time to his old and first friends, the lrlastcring contractors. lIe lives at 7407 South Hobart Street, I.os Angeles.

William E. (Bill) Chichester is transferring from the San Joacluin Valley and rvill represent Blue l)iam<-rnd in Orange, Imperial and San Diego counties. IIe will reside at 255.5 Crestview Drive, Balboa Bay Shores, Newport Reach. Under this nelv arrangement, Val B. Nygaard, who has been in this territory for many years transfers to metropolitan Los Angeles.

Bill Chichester has been in the Bakersfield territory since his discharge from the American Division as an Infantry Captain. Bill joined the Division at Bougainville and remained until Leyte where he received severe injuries and was returned to the States. His record witl-r Blue Diamond extends back to prewar days.

Val B. Nygaard, in his twentieth year rvith Blue Diamond, is one of the pioneers in the gypsum lath industry. Val's first work with the company was in the Long Beach area, u'here he remained for a couple of years, rvhen he was transferred to the Santa Barbara-Ventura territory for a short time. He then traveled San Diego, Orange, Imperial, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. At one time or another, he has called on practically everyone in the building material field in Southern California. Val rvill norv spend his time among the Los Angeles and pasadena dealers near his home at 513 Los Olivas Drive. San Gabriel.

W. T. (Bill) Clapham has becn appointed representative in thc San Joaquin Valley, replacing Bill Chichester r,vho has been transferred to the Southern territory. Bill was born in Korea of American parents, his fatl-rer being a mining engineer. He graduated from Long Beach Junior College and U.C.l,.A. with a BS in Business Aclministration, and entered Naval Aviation in the summer of l94OBill remained in this country as an instructor until 1943, and then shipped to the Aleutians and participated in the forays against the Northern Kuril Islands, and he was arvarded the D.F.C. I{e separated from the sen'ice as a I-icutenant Commander in December, 1945, returning to I-os Angeles with his wife and baby daughter. He is still active in the Reserve Naval Aviation. Bill has been active ir-r the building material field since his return to civilian life. FIe will resde at 2730 Garv Place, Bakersfield.

In the last two years 1,900,000 new homes were built in the United States.

Which?

Now it Beems to me that the many.are wise, And that there wae a foolish one Perhaps they sleep while she lives to weep, For the foolish things she hag done . But perhaps they sleep while she lives to weepAnd laugh, and lie in the sun.

Purdy.

Fireworks

Perhaps the Chinese, shortly after their invention of gunpowder, discovered that firecrackers were excellent for holiday purposes. They amused the populace, and also frightened the devils that always try to spoil auspicious occasions. Perhaps their redundant use in this country began when the clipper ships of New England went into the China trade in a big way.

You will find nothing about firecrackers for holidaymaking in European literature. About fireworks and the ceremonial art of pyrotechnics, yes; that has been going on since the 17th century to celebrate victories, kings' birthdays, etc. But the ornery firecracker, so dear to the heart of the American urchin and village loafer, has never disturbed the peace of Europe. That continent always preferred shooting in earnest.

Prepcre

In time of peace prepare for war, In time of matrimony, Set by some little secret store, Exempt from alimony.

A Good Trick

At a naval training station a doctor was preparing to fingerprint a recruit.

"Wash your hands," said the Doctor.

"Both of them?" asked the recruit.

The Doc hesitated a moment, and said: "No, just one. I want to see how you do it."

rhe most ""-*"Jl; I;tr1*:1,. tr,o,. that fa' to exert the final spurt, the sticking out to the finish. A salesman will make four calls on a prospect and then give up, when a fifth call might have meant an order. Life is constantly doing the unexpected. Success is a matter of margin -a minute, perhaps; an inch; a word spoken or withheld.

-Clipt

Good Bait

It was a hospital for mental cases, and a man sat in the front yard earnestly fishing in a flower bed. A visitor, wish- ing to be kind, approached him and aeked:

"How many have you caught?"

And the nut replied: "You're the ninth."'

Greqt Memories ol Old

According to factual history Cyrus could call every soldicr in his vast army by name. Themistocles called by name every one of the thirty thousand citizens of Athens. Laurez could recite from memory all the works of St. Augustine. Scaliger is reported to have committed to memory in one month both the Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer.

But Seneca, the great Roman philosopher, was probably the best of all the ancient memory experts. It is written that he could repeat two thousand disconnected words after having heard them once and in precisely the same order in which they were given. Once an author composed a very long poem and read it aloud at a public gathering. Seneca rose and denounced the poet as a plagarist, saying that he, Seneca, was the author of the poem, and to prove it he repeated it word for word. Then he challenged the poet to repeat it, and the fellow could not. To save the man any more mortification Seneca then admitted that it was a joke. He simply listened to the poem read and then recited it, something the author himself could not do.

Advice to Young Men

Never smash thy promise, lad; Never break thy word; Never kiss a lady's lips, Lest thou seem absurd.

Be a rock the girls can trust; Never tell a lie; Never come thou back again When they say goodby.

Never let them wonder, lad, If thou'lt be on time; Pay thy debts with diamonds, Never with a rhyme.

Never be a wastrel, lad; Never fool a maid: Honor make your business, Make of truth a trade.

Do thou as I tell thee, lad; Be the best of men; And girls won't write of thee in verse, Nor think of thee again.